Learning and Teaching
Junior DT / STEM Update
This term, our Junior students are diving into the exciting world of STEM!
They kicked things off by exploring a range of toys—investigating how they work, what they’re made from, and the purposes they serve. From there, students became researchers, surveying their peers to discover which toys are the most popular.
Using their findings, students will step into the role of designers, creating their very own brand-new toy! They’ll carefully consider which materials are best suited to their designs, while also thinking about how to make their creations more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
We can’t wait to see the creativity and innovation our students bring to life!
Taryn Bartlett
Digital Technology Specialist Teacher
MATHEMATICS
MENTAL STRATEGIES FOR WEEK 1 & 2 of TERM 2 AT SFS!
The strategies children will be focusing on over the next two weeks are listed below along with suggestions for practice at home. We encourage students to practice these strategies either independently or with the support of their family members. It is easy to do anytime and anywhere and 5 min a day makes a real difference to students.
| YEAR LEVEL | STRATEGY and SUGGESTIONS FOR PRACTICING AT HOME |
| Foundation | Forward number word sequence by ones within the range 0-30 -Start at 0 and count forwards by 1s to 30 -Can you start at any number between 0-30 and count forwards by 1’s beyond 30.
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| Year 1 | Counting forwards and backwards by 10’s within the range 0-130 (starting from any number)
At this age many children can confidently count backwards and forwards by 10s from 0-100 and 100-0. The challenge is then for them to be able to do so starting at any number. This requires them to recognise that a pattern also exists when they are not starting from a decuple (e.g. 10,20,20,40). Practice this mental strategy at home by asking a family member to call out a number between 0-130 and then practice counting backwards or forwards either orally or by recording the counting sequence on paper.
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| Year 2 | Counting forwards by 10’s within the range 0- 1000 (starting from any number) -As a family member to choose a number between 0 -1000. Can you start at that number and count forwards by 10s. Practice doing this orally as well as recording the counting sequence on paper.
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| Year 3 | Forward Number Word Sequence by 100’s and 10’s, 1’s to 10,000 and beyond from any number Practice your counting skills – starting with 1’s and then moving to 10’s and 100’s. Can you start at any number and count forwards and backwards?
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| Year 4 & 5 | Addition and subtraction with regrouping Practice mentally adding and subtracting whole numbers that involve regrouping (that is trading across place value units). When doing this mentally children break down the numbers according to their place value (100’s, 10’s 1’s) and add or subtract them separately. This allows them to regroup in a more manageable
STEPS:
E.g. 47 + 25 40+7 20+5 Add the 10’s, then add the 1’s: 40 +20 and 7+5 Regroup 7 + 5 = 12 so it is 10 +2 Combine the sums to find the total: so 60+10 +2 =72
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| Year 6 | Count by fractions When counting by fractions identify which fraction you are counting with –halves, third, eights etc. Do this by looking at the denominator, even if the fraction is a mixed numeral. Once this has been identified you can then start counting up with the numerator. |
Joanna Forbes
Learning and Teaching Leader
LS1 Juniors
This week in Writing…
This week Clinic 3 Writing composed a recount about their recent school holidays. However, instead of a usual postcard, letter or diary entry, the children planned, composed and recorded a ‘Day in the life Vlog’.
The students worked on writing in past tense, using time connectives to sequence events and including detail to make their vlog interesting.
Then the fun began… recording their vlogs. There was definitely a learning curve.The children enjoyed using expression, including catch phrases and recording themselves on a device. Finally they watched each others’ vlogs and shared some positive feedback.
Well done, Clinic 3.
Imasha Brodie
Junior LS1 Teacher
LS1 Seniors
Welcome back to Term 2!
In LS1 Seniors this week, we launched our new Religious Education and Inquiry unit by creating a range of provocations designed to spark students’ interest and curiosity in our new topic.
Provocations are important for learning, because they spark curiosity, encourage questioning, and invite students to think deeply. Rather than simply supplying students with the information, they are instead encouraged to explore, wonder, and make connections for themselves, both independently and with their peers.
Open-ended provocations help students develop critical thinking skills because there is often no single response or “right” answer.
Teachers aim to promote discussion, collaboration, and negotiation, as students develop their confidence to share different perspectives and learn from each other.
One particular immersion experience, required students to extend their understanding by using a series of images of a variety of natural and man-made systems.
It was fantastic to see so much discussion, collaboration, and negotiation as students worked together to interpret the images and construct meaning. Their enthusiasm and thoughtful conversations were a wonderful way to begin our new learning journey for Term 2.
We look forward to the learning to follow throughout the term.
Tanya Petersen
Senior LS1 Teacher
Parental controls and conversations to keep you child safe
No parental control tool is 100% effective. They are a helpful starting point but they’re not a complete solution on their own.
What really makes a difference is helping build your child’s online safety habits by combining technology with open conversations, guidance and trust.
Alongside parental control tools, you can help keep your child safer by:
- talking with them about what they like to do online, as well as the risks involved, and how to be safer online
- making sure their online activities are supervised, especially for younger children
- joining in their online activities when you can – play a game together, watch what they watch, explore apps side by side
- being aware of who they are connecting with online
- teaching them to follow the steps for reporting online abuse
encouraging your child to reach out to a trusted adult for support if something doesn’t feel right.
Using parental controls as a conversation starter, rather than secret setting, helps children understand why boundaries exist. Involving them in decisions about what’s set and reviewing them together as they grow can reduce stress, increase trust and mutual understanding and make online rules clearer and easier to follow.
When your child feels they are trusted, they're more likely to come to you for help when it really matters.
Check out the eSafety Commissioners advice on parental controls for your devices, apps and services.
SENIOR SPORT
The schools we are playing, dates and locations for these events are as follows:
- Friday April 24th, Lynbrook Primary School- CANCELLED due to Student Free Day.
- Friday May 1st, -St Kevins Primary School - Home Game.
- Friday May 15th, Hampton Park Primary School - Home Game.
- Friday May 29th, Lyndhurst Primary School - Away Game.
- Friday June 5th, Coral Park Primary School - Home Game.
- Friday June 12th, Kilberry Valley Primary School - Home Game..
- Friday June 19th, Summer Lightning Premiership
Venues for each sport are as follows for Lightning Premiership:
- Soccer - Melbourne City Synthetic Pitches (Casey Fields)
- AFL 9’s - Oval 2 (Casey Fields)
- Netball - Casey Stadium
- Volleystars - Casey Stadium
- Teeball - Oval 3 (Casey Fields)
Lulli Barbakos
Physical Education Teacher / Senior Sports Coordinator
lbarbakos@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
JUNIOR SPORTING EVENTS
SPORTING SCHOOLS - TAEKWONDO CLINICS
This term, as part of the Sporting Schools Program, which is funded by the Australian Government, we have been fortunate enough to receive funding to run extra-curricular sports.
We will have coaches from Melbourne Taekwondo Centre come to SFS to conduct Taekwondo Clinics with our Junior students.
This is a great way for students to continue to improve their interpersonal skills, goal setting, self-management and resilience skills, as well as learning and developing new skills in a sport they may never have experienced before. Some students may discover that taekwondo is a sport they would like to take up after school.
The students will participate in 4, 50 minute sessions. The clinics will take place beginning Week 2 through to Week 11. Below are the days the Taekwondo Clinics will be held so that you ensure your child is wearing their sports uniform for the day. This term all Juniors will have their clinics on the same day.
Reminders will also be placed in Morning Gathering as well as in the Newsletter.
Week 2 : Friday 1st May
Week 5 : Friday 22nd May
Week 7 : Monday 1st June
Week 10 : Monday 22nd June
Please ensure you acknowledge on NForma.
WHOLE SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS
SFS LEAGUE STARS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM RETURNS IN TERM 2!
To promote our NRL League Stars after school program, which will begin in Week 5 of next term, Ali the NRL Game Development Officer has organised coaches who will come to school and provide free Rugby clinics to all our students.
The clinics will be held in Week 3 and 4.
Details are below:
Monday May 4th – Senior Rugby Clinics
Monday May 11th – Junior Rugby Clinics
Please ensure your child wears their sports uniform on the appropriate days.
We have been given an excellent opportunity for Term 2 to have the NRL League Stars Program run after school (3.30-4.15 pm) on Wednesdays here at SFS. This program will only be available to SFS students.
LEAGUE STARS after-school program is RETURNING to ST FRANCIS DE SALES PRIMARY SCHOOL in 2026. JOIN in the FUN and Games in this NON-CONTACT Rugby League Program.
The Program Is Open for ALL Ages from 5 Years to 12 Years of Age. The Program will be over 6 Sessions with the First Session scheduled for Wednesday 20th May 2026 in Week 5, running consecutively each week on Wednesdays for 6 weeks and ending on Wednesday June 24th.
All Registered Participants for this after-school program will receive a League Stars Pack* containing a League Stars Backpack, Football and Ball Pump that will be dispatched and later arrive at your door.
*Pack items can vary and are subject to availability. The cost of the program is $89.
If you would like your child to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity, please register your child via the QR code on the flyer below. Registration is completed through NRL who will also be running the clinics. You will need to create an account with NRL and then find the program, Term 2 – 2026 – League Stars After School Program – St Francis de Sales, Lynbrook then click on register.
Ali is happy to organise students to be returned to After School Care once the program finishes at 4.15pm.
Any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Giuliana
Extra-Curricular Coordinator